NEW YORK – In an electrifying season opener at Citi Field, the New York Mets showcased their offensive prowess by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-7. Brett Baty set the tone for the game with a bases-loaded triple, marking a challenging debut for Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, who struggled throughout the first inning.
Carson Benge made an impressive debut of his own, hitting a home run in his first major league game, while he and Francisco Alvarez went back-to-back. Freddy Peralta (1-0), acquired from Milwaukee, secured a win in his Mets debut as New York improved its all-time opening day record to 42-23, the best in Major League Baseball history, despite a rocky start in the franchise’s early years.
The Pirates, despite some offensive highlights including two home runs from Brandon Lowe and a long ball from newcomer Ryan O’Hearn, faced significant challenges. Center fielder Oneil Cruz’s mishaps early in the game contributed to the Mets scoring five runs off Skenes, who exited after just two outs, matching his career high of 37 pitches.
The Mets’ revamped lineup featured five new hitters and took advantage of the Pirates’ pitching struggles, drawing eight walks and batting around twice within the first five innings. Notably, leadoff man Francisco Lindor walked three times, scoring each time. Luis Robert Jr. made a strong impression in his Mets debut with two RBI singles.
As the game progressed, Benge and Alvarez added to the Mets’ lead with solo homers off reliever Justin Lawrence, bringing the score to 11-5 in the sixth inning. The Pirates’ pitching staff ultimately issued nine walks, a concerning trend that surpassed their previous season high.
Peralta, a two-time All-Star, demonstrated his skills by striking out seven batters and not issuing a single walk over five innings, further solidifying his reputation in his third consecutive opening-day start in New York City. Tobias Myers, also acquired in the trade from Milwaukee, followed with three innings of solid relief, allowing just one run.
With the Pirates opening on the road for the tenth consecutive year, this matchup marked the earliest start to a season for both teams.
Up next, the Pirates will take a day off before right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller (6-15, 4.19 ERA) takes the mound in the middle game of the series against Mets lefty David Peterson (9-6, 4.22).
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